The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency wants to review on-orbit satellite servicing standards through a consortium it plans to create in connection with the Robotic Servicing of Geostationary Satellites program, Space News reported Monday.
Debra Werner writes the Consortium For Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations is intended to fill regulatory gaps for commercial-on-commercial rendezvous and proximity missions.
“Our fear was that we would create a robotic servicing capability through RSGS and when our industry partner went to Lloyds of London for insurance, someone would say, ‘You have no authority to conduct that mission,’†Brad Tousley, director of DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office, told the Space Foundation’s Space Technology and Investment Forum.
DARPA said in March that RSGS aims to consolidate a commercially-owned and operated robotic servicing vehicle into a privately-made spacecraft.
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